Walk-on Wednesday - A Personal Guide - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:3 NLT

Life would have been much easier—and still would be—if I had my own personal guide.

I’ve never been deep sea fishing or on a big game hunt, but many who take such excursions usually hire personal guides. Personal guides know the area and where they will likely find the game.

Having one to guide me through life would also be nice. They could have explained how much nicer it would be to use the toilet instead of soiling my diaper. How much better table food would taste than baby food. Or whole milk than baby formula. A personal guide could have steered me away from childhood rebellion by reminding me how important it was to honor and obey my parents. Later, he could have maneuvered me away from unhealthy relationships and stressful situations. And a personal guide could have warned me of the danger of rejecting Jesus Christ.

Jesus claims to be a tour guide—or whatever other type of guide we might need. He’s not here personally at the moment, but he plans to return. A final moment is coming when we’re going to need his help.

Death isn’t something I enjoy thinking about. In fact, I enjoy it less now than I ever have because I know I’m closer than I’ve ever been. When going somewhere I’ve never been, having a guide—whether a person or a technological gadget—is  essential. In this case, I’d prefer the real thing, not a voice speaking to me through a device of some sort.

Jesus promises he will personally get us when it’s our time. He won’t send angels. And our final journey won’t be alone. Instead, he’ll take our hand and lead us to the Promised Land. And since he knows where it is, we can trust he’ll get us there safely.

Trust Jesus to be your personal guide through life and death.

Prayer: Father, we trust You to guide us through our life’s journey and also through our final journey. 

Tweetable: Who is your personal guide? 

   

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Meandering Monday - The Lord Is My Shepherd . . . But - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Meandering Monday, where we take a trip back to an earlier post and enjoy it again.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd, I will not want . . . but I do. A new car would be nice. One that doesn’t register 225,000 miles. A vehicle I could trust driving on vacation without worrying about a breakdown. One that has a shiny paint job instead of one covered in overspray.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . . . but I do. A home with more space would do just fine. Instead of 1100 square feet, I’ll take 2200. One that has an extra bedroom for visitors. One with an office area with floor-to-ceiling bookcases that will host my entire library. One that has a yard to enjoy instead of four-square feet of fake grass.

The Lord is my shepherd, I should not want . . . but I do. A nice cushy retirement nest egg would suffice. One that will allow me to retire early. Enough that my wife and I can live comfortably on and even have a little left over for recreation. Sufficient to keep me from having to work after I start drawing Social Security.

The Lord is my shepherd, I will not want . . . but I do anyway. For once, I’d like to enjoy more money than month. After the bills, enough to splurge a little. Nothing big. Just a few wants satisfied now and then. A few play toys.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . . . but I do. A stress-free year. Just one with no deaths, sicknesses, losses, or tragedies. Nothing that causes pain.

David knew all about shepherding. He was one in his younger years. A large part of shepherding was ensuring the sheep had plenty of the right type of grass to munch on. Poisonous varieties could kill them. He knew what they needed, and they trusted him to lead.

I should follow suit. God has never given me all I want—he knows I wouldn’t handle it well. But he has consistently given me everything I need. I’ve never lacked the necessities of life, and he has always given me strength for anything he’s asked me to do. He’s a trustworthy shepherd. I should not want—and I won’t when I trust him to direct my life.

Who’s your shepherd?

Prayer: Father, we trust You to lead us safely and sufficiently through our life’s journey. 

Tweetable: Who is your shepherd? 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Eternally Safe - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalm 23:6b NJKV

Even when camping in the open country, I need security.

Security is a God-created basic human need. From the moment of birth, I felt it when my mom and dad cradled me in their arms. They continued to make me feel secure by changing my diapers, rocking me to sleep, feeding me, and giving me milk and juice to drink. They supplied all my basic needs.

As I got older and needed my parents less, I still needed security. I found it by getting a job so I could pay my living expenses. I discovered it by renting or buying a home to live in that kept me out of the elements. I felt it also by putting locks on my doors and windows to keep unwanted people out.

When my wife and I camp, many of those elements in a home that make me feel secure are missing. But I still need to feel secure. Instead of sleeping in the open under the stars, we bed down in a tent and make sure the fly is zipped tightly. This way, no snakes or other unwanted night creatures can slither in. Somehow, closing the tent makes me feel secure against bears also, even though I know that wouldn’t keep one out if he wanted to get in.

We also take along extension cords so we can plug our phones into a power source. We feel secure if we have a way to contact the outside world. We carry food and drink. Although we leave the comforts of our home, we still take the basic things that make us feel secure.

In Psalm 23, the psalmist takes us through an entire year in a sheep’s life. From the spring at the shepherd’s home to the green pastures of the high country during the summer and then back to the shepherd’s dwelling for the fall and winter. Throughout the sheep’s year-long journey, the shepherd has supplied all their needs, giving them a sense of security.

David experienced this same care from his Shepherd. Now, he wanted to dwell in His house forever. We often think about the church or heaven when reading this verse, but David had no church building to attend. He did, however, have heaven, as he understood it, to look forward to.

David boasted about his good Shepherd, and we should too. God gives us everything we need to feel secure, including salvation. He promises to meet our needs—physically, spiritually, and emotionally. And not only in this life but also in the life to come. Eternity is ours. He won’t take from us—salvation—what He has given to us. A part of that promise is a new heaven and a new earth.  

Telling others about our good Shepherd is one way we express our gratitude for His blessings. Loving God’s church is another. Christ died for the church, and our eternal security is represented by what the church is about and the message she proclaims.

When we’ve made our peace with God, we can dwell in His presence forever, which is the better meaning of what David says. While on earth, we enjoy the presence of God’s Spirit, and after death, we’ll enjoy seeing our Savior face to face.

Have you prepared to be eternally secure?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the promise we can be eternally secure in Your presence. 

Tweetable: Are you eternally safe? 

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Purged by God - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 NLT

All I could remember was that it was black, greasy, and stunk. But it would relieve soreness, clear up infections, and draw out embedded splinters. Now that my ingrown toenail was pestering me, I needed some.

I visited the local pharmacy in our small town, walked up to the pharmacist, described it, and asked if she knew what I was talking about. To my surprise, she said, “It’s Ichmmathol.” When I asked if it was still available, she handed me a tube.

I was the proud owner of an old remedy. I went home, removed my shoe and sock, smeared a drop on my big toe, covered it with a bandage, and waited. In a few days, the soreness vanished. Ichmmathol purged my toe.

David may have been a man after God’s own heart, but he was often guilty of bad decisions and sinful acts. To his credit, he requested God to search and purge him. When God revealed what He had found, David confessed.

I’ve discovered God searches and purges me through a combination of His Word and His Spirit. His love will let him do no less. Before I was His child, He lovingly drew out my stubbornness, letting me know I was on the wrong road. After I became His child—when I strayed down selfish or destructive paths—He penetrated my sore spots until I came to my senses.

God wants to purge us of anything keeping us from Him or hindering a full and abundant relationship with Him.

Ask God to search and purge you.

Tweetable: Are you allowing God to purge your life?

Prayer: Merciful Father, we ask You to search us and reveal anything that needs to be removed so we can be all You desire us to be.

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